How to Become an Adult Foster Care Provider

How to Become an Adult Foster Care Provider?

Adult foster provider applicants must follow the steps below to become a licensed Adult Foster Care Provider for Washington County Developmental Disabilities.

Initial Requirements
1. Must reside in a single-family residence in Washington County. This means it must be a detached single family dwelling (no apartments, duplex, condominium).
2. Must have one year, full time, paid experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Attend an Adult Foster Care Orientation session
1. Orientations are hosted by Washington County Developmental Disabilities and held in the Auditorium from 1-4 p.m. at the Public Services Building, 155 N. First Ave., Hillsboro. This location is accessible by public transportation and is one block from the Hatfield Government Center MAX stop.
  1. January 15, 2025
  2. April 16, 2025
  3. July 16, 2025
  4. October 15, 2025
No registration is required. Participants must attend the entire orientation meeting to receive attendance certificates. Individuals arriving late will not receive attendance certificates.
Complete the Adult Foster Care Basic Training Program
1. DD adult foster care providers, resident managers and substitute caregivers must complete the Adult Foster Care Basic Training Course.
2. You must also pass the Basic Training Examination before you can get your license or provide care to residents. Applicants to become an adult DD foster care provider, substitute caregiver or resident manager must study the Basic Training Course manual and video links below.
  1. Adult DD Foster Care Basic Training Course Videos
  2. Adult DD Foster Care Basic Training Course Manual
3. After you have attended orientation, studied the material, and are ready for testing, please email: [email protected] to schedule your test.
  1. Oregon Administrative Rules require all DD adult foster care providers, resident managers, and substitute caregivers to comprehend and communicate in English both orally and in writing. Interpreters are not allowed to be present during the examination.
4. Provider and resident manager applicants must pass the test within two attempts.
  1. Substitute caregivers who do not pass the test after two attempts must wait 14 days between each test date to retake the test.
Complete the DD Adult Foster Care Provider Application
1. The application process is reviewed during foster provider orientation meetings.
  1. Checklist for Adult Foster Care License (PDF 24.02 KB)
2. Please note that the application is not complete until all required information is submitted with the required non-refundable fee.
  1. Incomplete applications are void after 60 days of the date the application form is received. Failure to provide accurate information may result in the denial of the application.
  2. Required application forms:

Please submit all of the above application materials to the Washington County Developmental Disabilities Program at: 5240 NE Elam Young Parkway Ste. 150, MS 66, Hillsboro, OR 97124 (by mail, in person, or drop box if after hours).

Important

The application is not complete until the required information is submitted with the required non-refundable fee (you will receive information on how to pay the fee after your application has been reviewed and a licensor assigned).

Incomplete applications are void after 60 days of the date the application form is received. Failure to provide accurate information may result in the denial of the application.

Mandatory abuse reporting

Foster providers and their staff are mandatory reporters. Foster providers and their staff must report the abuse or neglect of individuals with developmental disabilities as defined in OAR 407-045-0260 - Adult Developmental Disabilities Abuse Rules.

Providers must keep proof of mandatory abuse report training. This training is required for the provider, resident manager, and substitute caregivers:

Before licensure
Upon hire
Every year

To report suspected abuse, visit the Protective Services page for contact information.
For more information on mandatory abuse reporting, please see the state’s website reporting abuse and neglect.

FAQs

After the application is received by our office, a licensor will be assigned to the applicant's home. After all required application materials are received, the licensor will schedule a time to license the home.

Licensors are not able to visit prospective foster home locations before licensing. Providers may call or e-mail licensors to ask questions or raise concerns before sending in the application materials. Licensors are not able to advise applicants about selection of specific properties.

After a home is licensed, licensors will visit the foster home throughout the licensing year. Visits may be announced or unannounced.

The length of time to get licensed varies for each applicant. It depends on many factors such as:

When the applicant can attend an initial orientation meeting
Completeness of the application materials
If physical modifications need to be completed in the home
Responsiveness of the applicant’s references
Other delays

The referral process is discussed in detail at orientation meetings. Licensing does not guarantee that individuals will be placed in the home. If an individual is placed in a foster home, placement is not guaranteed for any length of time.

DD adult foster home licenses are issued for one year. About three months before the end date, the provider will receive a license renewal packet from the state DD Licensing Unit. Submit the completed licensing renewal packet to the Washington County licensor at least 60 days before the license end date. A licensing visit will then be scheduled, about 30 days before the license end date.